Grand Canyon Brewing Plans $2.7 Million Expansion

David Eisenberg

Jan. 2, 2014 at 3:40 PM

Once just a brewpub serving up craft beer to Arizona locals, Grand Canyon Brewing Co. today announced plans to invest $2.7 million to expand its production facility and push into a handful of new markets in 2014.

In a press release, the company said it is beginning construction on a new, 27,000 sq. ft. production facility that is located less than a mile from its current home along Route 66 in Williams, Ariz..

“We’ve been making a lot of beer out of a small little space,” said Drew Carricato, the company’s director of brewery operations.

At just 6,000 sq. ft., Grand Canyon’s current facility is a fraction of what’s to be built up the street. The brewery produced “just under 6,000 barrels in 2013,” according to the release and Carricato said the company is aiming for 50-percent growth this year.

The space, equipped with a 40-barrel brewing system that is capable of producing 40,000 barrels annually — the state production limit for craft brewers — is expected to be operational by May, added Drew Carricato, director of brewery operations.

“There’s plenty of room to grow in the state of Arizona,” he said. “[We] just got into Vegas.

While the press release outlines the brewery’s plans to tap into new markets including Colorado, New Mexico and California, Carricato said the company will also “push harder in the markets that we’re in currently.”

The brewery said it plans to hire more full-time employees including “at least one more full-time brewer, two cellar men and two deck mates to staff the production facility.”

“After that,” Carricato said, “the sky’s the limit.”

The full press release is below:

Phoenix, AZ — Simply put, we need to produce more beer – that’s how John Peasley, owner of the Grand Canyon Brewing Company sees it, “Now that we’ve expanded into the Nevada market and have started increasing our retail presence, we need to make more beer on an annual basis to meet demand.”

Since opening in 2007, the Grand Canyon Brewing Company has grown from a little neighborhood pub to brewing just under 6,000 bbl (barrels of beer) in 2013, — all accomplished in a 6,000 sq. ft. brewing space located along historic Route 66 in Williams, AZ.

“When we started this back in 2007, we never dreamt of the success we’ve experienced so far. Our beer is outdoorsy, rustic and all about the extreme thrill of exploration and adventure. We’re looking forward to sharing that feeling with everyone who enjoys our beer,” remarked, Peasley.

The new production facility is 27,000 sq. feet with 20,000 sq. feet of that space dedicated to brewing in a 40 barrel brewing system capable of producing an estimated 40,000 bbl — the state limit — once fully developed. The new facility is located at 301 N Seventh Street, Williams, AZ.

With an investment of nearly $2.7M, the facility will allow the Grand Canyon Brewing Company to meet current demand, increase their retail market and to expand into new states including California, New Mexico and Colorado. Brewing is expected to begin in May, 2014.

Additionally, Peasley plans to hire at least one more full-time brewer, two cellar men and two deck mates to staff the production facility.

As for the existing brewery, it will be outfitted with a new nano-brewing system for testing out new flavor combinations and brewing methods. Also, a tasting room, bar, pool tables, and large screen tv’s will be added.